Mervyn and Nola Baker reminisce on the past 50 years of marriage. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Two Wimmera couples celebrated life, love and family on their 50th wedding anniversaries on Saturday.
Nola and Mervyn Baker of Horsham and Moira and Neville Hobbs of Douglas spent the weekend relaxing at Lake Fyans.
The two couples were brought together when the Bakers' daughter Dianne married the Hobbs's son Peter.
Mrs Baker said it was an unlikely coincidence that sparked a friendship with the Hobbs.
She said she could not believe that 50 years of married life had gone so quickly.
"You just wonder where the years go," she said.
"I have just loved seeing the children grow up and now the grandchildren as well.
"I have always been family-oriented and we are still a close family."
While Mr Baker joked that he couldn't stand another 50 years, he said the couple had gone through ups and downs to come out the other side stronger.
He said he had watched his wife evolve during the past five decades.
"I have had three women in that 50 years; the first one I courted, the next one was a mother and now she is a grandmother," he said.
"My idea of life and marriage is having someone to keep you company for the rest of your life.
"The main key to marriage is that if you have an argument, sort it all out rather than running away; you've got to kiss and make up."
Mrs Hobbs said she thought her husband-to-be was 'alright' when they first met at a dance.
She said the highlight of her marriage had been watching their six children and 13 grandchildren grow up.
"There have been highlights and lowlights over the 50 years but it has all been great," she said.